Torsion-meter.



J. F. METTEN;

TORSION METER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1909.

1,164,839. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET laumaa' E ,1

.I. F. METTEN.

TORSION METER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Natic.

-J'0HN F. METTEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TORSION-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1909. Serial No. 500,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. Mnrr'rnlv, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Torsion-Meters, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to torsion meters, and more particularlytomeasuring apparatus for determining the power being transmitted by adriven shaft, as for instance, the

propeller shaft of a ship. It is known that when a shaft is transmittingpower it is under a certaln degree of torsion or deflection, and the obect of th1s lnvention 1s to utilize this torsion of the shaft to actuateindicating devices which will vary from a normal position according tothe torsion, which is, a functionof power being transmitted, and-capableof being empirically determined for each individual shaft.

The objects of this invention are to pro vide a torsion meter which willproduce permanent and extremely accurate records which will be entirelyindependent of the quickness or skill of the operator taking the record,and to provide an apparatus wherein the possibility of errors ofobservation will be eliminated. v In carrying out the invention, I haveprovided an apparatus comprising two parts adapted to be secured atseparated points to the shaft whose horse power is to be measured, onepart consequently being angularly displaced relatively to the otherwhenthe shaft is transmitting power, together *with multiplying devicescontrolled by the torsional or angular deflection of one part relativelyto the other, and actuated marking devices so disposed as to mark arecord'sheet when an observation is to be taken. In

combination therewith is provided a record sheet supporting tablenormally held out of operative position, but capable of being moved tobring the record sheet into position to be marked when a record is to betaken.

The invention will be more fullyunderstood in connection with thedescription of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows asection of an apparatus embodying .the invention taken longitudinally ofthe shaft, Fig. 2 is a detail view of the indicator actuating element,Fig. 3 is a side view of the'indicator and recording element, Fig. 4.-is a front view of a portion of the indicatingelement, Fig. 5 is adetail of another portion of the indicating element, Fig. 6 is a faceview of an apparatus embodying the invention seen from the rear, Fig. 7is-a view similar to Fig. 1 showing, in addition, the position of therecord card table, Fig. 8 is a longitudinal view of a,

turbine drivenshaft having the invention applied thereto, and Figs. 9,10 and 11 show respectively the neutral position of the indicator whenno load is being transmitted by the shaft, and two positions when theshaft is transmitting different amounts of power.

1 represents a shaft having a sleeve 2 rigidly secured thereto at thepoint 3. The sleeve 2 is preferably made in two halves, which. will besecured together by clamping bolts 4, but it will be understood that thebolts 4; simply hold the two halves of the sleeve together withoutengagingit with the shaft. From this 'it will appear that when the shaftis transmitting power it will be subject to angular deflection ortorsion, while the sleeve, being simply secured to the shaft at onepoint 3, will not be subjected to torsion or angular deflection. Thesleeve will be made sufliciently long in practice so that there will bean appreciable deflection of the shaft when under load relatively to thesleeve, and from records'of this deflection the calculations of thehorse power being transmit-ted will be'made.

6 represents a divided disk whichwill be rigidly clamped to the shaftadjacent the end of thesleeve 2 by bolts 7, so that the end of thesleeve 2 nearest the disk will always be angularly deflected in thedirection of ro-,

tation of the shaft relatively to the disk 6.

Mounted on the end sleeve 2are opposite arms 8, only one of which willbe used to support the indicating devices, the other being providedtodynamically balance th device when the shaft is rotating. Pivoted on onearm 8 by a bolt 9 is a lever 10 having the separated ends 12 and a stud13 carried at its lower end adapted to be angularly'ad-' j usted by setscrews 1'4: carriedin the arms Patented Dec. 21,1915.

8. Pivoted on a stud 16 carried in disk 6 is a block 17, to which isriveted a pair of rigidly connected indicator arms 18." Also carried bythe block 17 is a stud 19 passing through a squared block 20 closelyfitted between the forkedends '12 of lever .10, and engaged by thelatter. Fig, 6 shows a general design of the'indicator 18, from which itwill be seen that it consists of a light. framework connecting two arms,and that the free ends of the two arms of the indicator are providedwith knives or other marking devices 22, which project through slots 23in thedisk 6. p In Fig; 8 is shown a detail of this construction,wherein it will be seen that the slot, 23 contains a bushing plate 25countersunk therein, and the indicating knlfe or point 22 has shoulders27, 28 on opposite sides of bushing plate 25, these shoulders preventingvibration of the knife except in a plane parallel to the face of thedisk 6.

If'the shaft l be clamped against rotation at the disk 6 and a torque beapplied to the "shaft at thepoint 3, a vibration of'the indicatingpoints 22 in the slots 23 would be produced, depending upon the amountof torque applied to the shaft at the point 3. Thisv will result byreason of whatever defiection there is on the shaft at the point 3 beingcommunicated in equal degree to the end of the sleeve 2, and throughthearm 8, pivot 9, lever 10 and block 20, will oscillate the indicator18 on its pivot 16 from the neutral position shown in Fig. 9 to positionshown in Figs. 10 or 11, Fig. 11 showing a greater deflection. of theindicator 18 and consequently having a greater torque applied to theshaft 1 at 3. If the torque be applied in the other direction, of'coursethe indicator 18 would be oscillatedin a reverse direction. The sameconditions exist when j the'shaft is being rotated as bythe turbine '29in Fig. 8, the rear end of the shaft having the load always'being, onaccount of the elasticity of the shaft, a certain angular amount behindthe driving end of the shaft, and consequently producing a deflection of'the'indicator 18. The function ofthe set screws 14% is to adjust thelever 10 and consequently the indicator 18, so that the knives 22 whenthe shaft is rotating without load will travel in the same circle, as'30 (Fig. 9) In order to make an indication, it will simply be necessaryto hold a card against the face of the disk 6 so that the knives will",cut slots in the edge of the card, and the distance between these slotswill be'a function of the horse power being transmitted by the shaft.-'It will thus be seen that the actual difference between the two cutswill be twice the movement of the knives, since onemoves toward thecenter of the disk and one away from the center. These cuts will.

thus be a permanent record of the twisting force on the shaft at thetime the cuts were 1 made. In order to compute the power transmitted, itis'only necessary to know the ed upona bearing, preferably of the roller7 type in order to eliminate friction, and between the bearings thetorsion nieter'is in- V stalled and mounted on the shaft, as abovedescribed, with the two pointers or knives adjusted so'as toboth comeexactly on the neutral circle 80. One end of the shaft is then firmly;clamped to prevent turning,

while at the other end is attached a lever of known length and a knownpower ortorque applied toflthe lever, vary-ingfifrom small" amounts upto the extreme loadtheJShaft isv intended to transmit inservice. Duringthe application of each load'to the shaft, the'deflection of thepointers from the neutral circle is accurately measured and a scaleprepared therefrom showing the torques in; inch or foot-poundsrepresentedby such ce flection." After this table is'made up, the,

shaft, is then installed whereit is to be used, i

and the table as made upfromxthe tests is observed so as to enable thehorsepower to be calculated from the knownnumber of revolutions and theknown torques required to produce certain deflections of the points.

In order to enable these records to be con.- veniently taken when theshaft is installed, a small wooden. table. 31 having'its edge parallelwith the faceof disk 6ffis mounted on-a 'fixed part of the ship: in suchmanner as I to be swung away fr om'the diskwhen not in use so as to beout of the way of the v The table 31 is I f revolving-disk and point. Imounted on an arm 32 pivoted at 33 to abracketfil, and between thearm 32and the bracket 34 is interposed a spring 35, which" normally holdsnthetable tilted backwardly away; from the face of the disln'the lug 37engaging the upper end 38' of the bracket 34-,

thereby limiting the backward movement. The forward movement of thetable toward the disk limited bya set screw 89 engaging a stop lug 4-0on the bracket 34, which can of course be'adjusted to bring the tablethe correctdistance from the'face of the disk. On the surface ofthetable at the edge adjacent, the disk are mounted stop plates ll-toengagetheedgesof' a cardand a pivoted spring jclamp 4:2.v :When. arecord is to be taken, the clamp is lifted and a card inserted againstthe stops 41 and then held by the clamp. Then the table is pushed towardthedisk as far as it will go, and the revolutions of j the knives outslots in the card. When the shaft is not transmitting. anyload, itwillbe seen that both of the knives willrevolve in the samecircle,--.c'ut-.-

ting only "a single slot, but when the shaft is "loaded two slots willbe cutat a distance apart equal to 'thetotal movement .of thetwolmivesor points, this distance being a function 'oflthe load. Fromthese measurements and charts made up from the tests of veach shaft thehorse power being transmitted can be determined at a known numberofrevolutions. I

7 From the above description, lt-Wlll be seen thatthe arrangement of twoknives or measuring points (on opposite sides of the fulcrum give.double length of scalethat could be obtained by ordinary means with thesame centers. This allows the actuating points to be given sufiicientthrow and dis tance from the fulcrum as to avoid the difmechanism are soarranged as to permit of being dynamically balanced, which 18 importantat high speeds in order to insure accuracy. 1

Modifications and changes in the specific construction herein describedmay be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that What I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1; The combination in a torsion measuring device, of a continuous shaftrigidly carrying two parts at axially displaced ment by the torsion ofthe shaft, a'movablc projecting marker mounted on one of said parts torotate with theshaft in paths varying with the torsion between saidparts, actuating means connecting said marker and the other part, and arecord device independent of the shaft adapted to be engaged by therotating marker to obtain an instantaneous record of the path ofrotation of said marker without stopping the. shaft.

The combination vin a torsion indicat- 1ng mechanism, of a shaftcarrying two parts at longitudinally displaced points sub ject torelative angular displacement by thetorsionof the shaft, a projectingmarker pivoted on one of said parts and rotating with the shaft in pathsvarying with the torsion between said parts, an adjustable actuatingdevi'cemountedon the other part andv moving said marker .at a multipliedratecto an abnormal path of rotation varying with the torsion-betweenthe points ,carr-ying said parts, and a record dev ce independent of theshaft adapted to be engaged by the rotating marker to obtain aninstantaneous record of the path of rotation of said marker-Withoutstopping the shaft.

The combination in atorsion indicating mechanism, with a shaft carryingtwo parts subject to relative angular displacement, .of an indicatorpivoted on one of said parts, said indicator having two separatedmarkers normally-disposed to-rotate' in the same circle,and beingmounted to cause said markers .to move away from said circle in responseto torsion of said shaft, an actuating device for. moving said indicatorto displace said markers from normal position when said parts areangularly displaced,

and means for obtaining a record of the in stantaneous circles ofrotation o S d markers. I

4. The combination in a tors on indlcatingmechani m with two connectedand rotatable parts subject to relative angular d e- .fiection, of anindicat r h ing a plu ity of :markers mounted on one of said parts to beresponsive to relative angular displacement of said parts, leveractuating, connections for said indicator carried by the-other. part,said indicator and markers being arranged to permit a record of thecombined displacement of said markers.

'15. The combination 1n a torsion ndicat- 111g: device comprising twoconnected and rotatable parts subject to relative angular.

displacement, of an indicating device having .a plurality of markersadapted to make .a common mark for, no angular displace ment, and aplurality of separated marks when said parts are angularly displaced,and means responsive to relative angular displacement, ofwsaid parts forcontrolling the position of said indicating device.

:6. The combination in a torsion indicat ing device comprising .twoconnected and rQtatable parts subject to relative angular displacement,of an indicating device havingaplurality of marl'rers adapted to make acommon indication for no angular displacement, and a plurality ofindications varying in distance :apart proportionately totheangulardisplacement when said parts are angularly displaced, andconnections between said :parts for controlling said indicatingdevice. iv

7. The Combination in a torsion indicating device with two connected androtatable parts subject .to relative angular displacement, of a levermounted on one of said parts, anindicator arm pivoted on the other partand connected to be actuated by said lever, and a :marki-ngmembermovableby said indicator arm in response to varying gu di p a ement of saidparts.

scnmbmatlnn in. :a. t rsion indica ing'device with two connected androtatable parts subject to relative angular displace-v ment,;.of alever'mounted on one of said parts, a double indicator arm pivoted onthe other part and connected to be actuatedby said lever and meanswhereby an 'in- 'dication of the movement of both arms may be'madel'y vI 9. The combination with a shaft, of a sleevesecured thereon "at oneend to surroundjthe shaft atits other end, a disk carried-by"the'shait't adjacent the free endof the sleeve, an indicator pivoted onthe disk and having a marking point extending longitudinally "of th'eshaft, and means for'obtainingre'cords of the positionof saidmarkingpoint when the shaft is under varyingdegrees of torsion. I

10.: The combination in a torsion indicating device with two connectedandrotatable partssubject to relative angular displacementyof anindicator mounted on one of said parts to rotate with the shaft-in paths"varying with the torsion between said parts and vibrated-from one pathto another whensaid parts are angularly displaced, anarm mounted' on'theother partwand engaging 7 said indicator and a record deviceindependent of the shaft adapted i to contact- I with said indicatorduring its =rotation to Y record the instantaneous pathof-rotation ofsaid indicator without stopping the shaft 11; The combination in atorsion indicating device 1 with, a continuous shaft, of: a

collar secured thereto'a't, one point, and a tubular sleeve at a'distant point, an indi r catormount'edon one of said parts to rotatewith the shaft in projecting paths Varying with the torsion between saidparts and mechanically connected to the other part to a be vibrated bythe torsion ofsaid-s'hait be tween said supporting points, and a recorddevice independent of theshaft adapted to contact with said'indicatorduring its rota- ;tion to record the instantaneous path of rotation ofsaidindicator without stopping the shaft.

12."The' combination in a torsion indicating device with two partsmounted on a shaftrand subject to relative angular displacementyof anindicator mounted on one of said parts to vibrate during rotation in aplane perpendicular to the axis of rota-1 tron, means onthe other-partfor causing such vibration, a point carried by -said indi-f' catorextending longitudinally of the axis f of rotation, and astationaryrecord sheet I fiection, of an'indicat'or having amarkerresponsive to such deflection mounted on to be intermittently:marked by said point.

13. The combination in a torsion indicating mechanism with two connectedand ro tatable parts subject to relative angular deone part androtating'withthe shaft in projecting path's' varying-withthe torsionbetween saidctwo'parts, actuating connections for said marker carried bythe other/part, and a support movable into and out'o-fpositionaadjaoentthe path of rotation of said marker for taking recordon a sheet carried thereby of the instantaneous path ofrota tion of saidmarker shaft. Y 1 i c a v a a 14:. The combination in atorsionindicating mechanism with two connected and rowithout stopping thetatable parts subject to relative angular de-".: flection,' of anindicator responsive-toictor- I sion mounted on one part and ro'tatingwith the shaft in projecting paths varying .-with the torsion betweensaid parts, actuating:

connection for saidmarker carried by ,the other part and a sheet supportheld noru mally out of operation and movable to a position adjacent theprojecting -path of rotation of saidmarker for making a record withoutstopping the shaft. 15. The combination in a torsion indicatingmechanism with two oonnectedand r0 on sheetcarried thereby of theinstanjtaneous path of rotation of said marker tat-able parts subject'torelativennglllar deflection, of an indicator; responsive; to tor-T sionmounted on. one part,v actuating con nections'thereforcarried by theother part,- andafstationary sheet support adj acentlthe path ofrotation ofsaid indicator having sheet clamping meansand movable'intoand out of position for taking a record of thetweensaid parts, and asheet independent of the shaft'and movable to contact'with the path ofrotation of said marking mea'ns to' receive marks varying according tothe torwithout stopping the-shaft.

sion between said parts, to takea'record 17. The combination in atorsion indieating apparatus comprising two parts car-- ried by a shaftand subject to relative an gular displacement of a plurality of 'movable-indicating points carried'byone'of saidiparts, actuatingconnections betweents'aid indicatingpoints and the other part, means foradjusting the normal position" of said points relatively to saidpartssaid points in normal position rotating in'the same path;

and when displaced, in different paths. o- 18'. The combination in atorsion iindi-' eating apparatus comprising two partsca'ra a j ried by ashaft and subject to relative angular displacement, of a pluralitv ofmovable indicating points carried byone of said parts, actuatingconnections bet'ween said indicating points and the othenpart',

means for adjusting said points to deter-' mine a no-load position,said'points in normal position rotating in the same path, and

when displaced, in different paths.

19. The combination in' a torsion indicating mechanism, with acontinuous shaft carrying two parts at longitudinally-displaced pointsand subject to relative angular displacement by the torsion of theshaft, of a marker mounted on one part and rotating With the shaft inprojecting paths varying with the torsion between said parts, anactuating device mounted on the other part and having connection withsaid marker, and means independent of the shaft for obtaining apermanent record of the instantaneous path of rotation of said markerwithout stopping the shaft.

20. The combination in a torsion indicating mechanism,v of a continuousshaft rigidly carrying two parts at longitudinally displaced points andsubject to relative angular displacement by the torsion of the shaft, amarker connected to and controlled by said parts so as to move to anabnormal position in proportion to the torsion of said shaft betweenthepointscarrying said parts, said marker projecting externally of itssupport so asto rotate with the shaft in projecting paths varying withthe torsion between said parts, and means independent of the shaft forobtaining by contact with said rotating marker a record of theinstantaneous path of rotation of said marker without stopping theshaft. 7

21. The combination in a torsion indicating mechanism of a shaftcarrying a plurality of rotatable markers, said markers rotating withthe shaft one in advance of the other, and means whereby said markerssuccessively make marks on a record sheet spaced apart proportionatelvto the torsion in a predetermined section of said shaft.

22. The combination in a torsion indi-r cating mechanism, of a shaftcarrying two parts subject to relative angular displacement, a pluralityof markers connected to said parts and rotating with said shaft one inadvance of the other, and means adapting said markers to mark spaces ona record sheet varying with the angular displacement of said parts.

The combination in a torsion indicating mechanism, of a shaft carryingtwo parts subject to relative angular displacement, a plurality ofcutting markers connected to said parts and rotating with said shaft,and means adapting said markers to make cuts in a record sheet varyingin dis tance apart with the angular displacement of said parts. 3

24. The combination in a torsion indicating mechanism, of a shaftcarrving two parts subject to relative angular displacement, a pluralityof markers connected to said parts and rotating with said shaft,

means for supporting a record sheet adiacent the paths of rotation ofsaid markers cating apparatus comprising two connected and rotatableparts, subject to relative angular displacement, of a marker carried onone part andhaving actuating connection with the other part, said markerrotating with the shaft in one path when the shaft is not loaded, and inanother and difierent path varving with the load, when the shaft isloaded.

I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. in presence of twowitnesses.

' J. F. METTEN. Witnesses v,

ISAAC ARROTT, Louis B. MGQUAIDE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

